And some have questioned why the flanker has been picked by coach Vern Cotter, himself a Kiwi, for the Six Nations squad ahead of some established internationals despite not having yet made an appearance for the Pro12 club.

"Whether it is a project for the future, I'm not sure, but he's out there working as hard as he can to put his foot forward," said Cowan, whose mother is from Argyll.

Now 28 and with only six caps behind him, the London Scottish forward was a late convert to the Scottish cause, making his debut last summer.

"It took me a while to find my feet over exactly where my roots came from," he admitted.

"But, once I came here and realised the similarities in my values and the rest of it growing up, that's when I got more of a belonging to the country.

London Irish forward Blair Cowan now has six Scotland caps

"It is kind of surreal when you come here and actually experience Scotland, but you do have that pride and it is in our blood and it is definitely in mine."